When is Eid’l Fitr 2018 in the Philippines?

What is Eid’l Fitr to Muslim Filipinos?

Muslim Filipinos considers the Eid al-Fitr (Eid’l Fitr) holiday as one of the important religious holiday celebrations in Islam. It marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It is a celebration of thanksgiving to Allah.

The Eid’l Fitr holiday commemorates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.

Filipino Muslims celebrates the Eid’l Fitr for three days. A congregational prayer starts the first day of Eid.

When is Eid’l Fitr 2018 in the Philippines?

In the Islamic lunar calendar, it falls on the 1st day of Shawwal (the 10th month in Islamic calendar) and lasts for three days. In the international (Gregorian) calendar, the dates vary from year to year drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year. The start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality.

Eid’l Fitr 2018 in the Philippines falls on Friday, June 15 based on estimates. However, moon-sighting determines the first day of Shawwal corresponding to the first day of Eid’l Fitr. If the moon is not observed on the 14th of June, the Eid is moved the following day (on the 16th).

Is Eid’l Fitr a holiday in the Philippines?

The Philippines celebrates Eid al-Fitr as a regular holiday since 2002 after former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 298. The declaration aims to promote cultural understanding and integration. It gives the entire nation the full opportunity to join the Filipino Muslim community in observing this important day.

Every year, the Malacañang Palace releases a proclamation declaring it a holiday. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) recommends on which date in the Gregorian calendar it should fall.